Lawn and garden sprinkler



Dec. 27, 1955 H, STAGG 2,728,603

LAWN AND GARDEN SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 13, 1954 g i NToR nited StatesPatent@ rlirwce LAWN AND GARDEN SPRINKLER James H. Stagg, Salt LakeCity, Utah Application December 13, 1954, Serial No. 474,774

7 Claims. (Cl. 299-18) This invention relates to improvements insprinklers which are automatically manipulated through reaction of waterunder pressure, and provides a sprinkler which is adaptable, throughvarious adjustments to the sprinkling of small to relatively large areasand ranging through relatively narrow to wide practically straightstrips, through semi-oval to semi-circular, on one or either side of thesprinkler, making it possible to sprinkle practically over any desiredarea within the scope of the sprinkler.

This invention can be made in several dierent forms, the simplest formof which operates only about a horizontal plane, while in other forms itcan be made to operate about any desired axis from horizontal tovertical and to sprinkle in either, any intermediate, or in bothdirections, and in addition, the nozzles are provided with axiallyadjustable defiectors for deecting the spray in any angular directionfrom the nozzle, making the sprinkler universal in its adaptability andapplication.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows: v

First, to provide a sprinkler which can be arranged for coupling of agarden hose to either end of the sprinkler.

Second, to provide a sprinkler in which the spray nozzles are providedwith deectors which are adjustable about the axis of the nozzles forcontrolling the width or relative area of the path to be sprinkled.

Third, to provide a sprinkler which is provided with a stator having asingle feed passage for sequential discharge through a circular seriesof nozzles, and in which the stator is axially adjustable fordifferential spraying on respective sides of the sprinkler.

Fourth, to provide a sprinkler in which the axis of the sprinkler isadjustable through an angle of at least 90 degrees for varying thepattern and direction of the spray.

ln describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawings,` in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the simplestform of the invention, and showing only one nozzle.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, but modiiied to includethree equally angularly spaced nozzles.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the invention drawn to a reduced scale,with the support end shown in section and illustrating the adjustingmeans for adjusting the axis of the sprinkler to any desired angleranging from horizontal to vertical, and for adjusting the stator aboutits axis.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates fragmentarily in section a modification in which thehose coupling is provided at the support end of the stator.

Fig. 6 illustrates the arrangement for the forward end of the stator androtor for the rear coupled hose illustrated in Fig. 5.

The invention, in its simplest form, consists of a stator 2,728,603Patented Dec. 27, 1955` 10 having an annular ange 11 provided at itsouter or free end, and having an axial bore formed in the free end andterminating in spaced relation to the other or support end 13 asindicated at 14. A radial passage 15 formed through the wall of thisstator communicates with the axial bore and forms the single feedpassage, and radial passages 16 and 17 are formed through the oppositewall in axially spaced relation to the passage and serving only toequalize the pressure on opposite sides of the stator for frictionlesslloating operation of the rotor on the stator.

Suitable sealing means 18 is provided for the respective ends of thestator, and suitable securing means 19 is provided for securing theother end 14 of the stator to a support 20 which is provided with asuitable base 21.

The hose coupling 22 is shown as coupled to the outer or free end of thestator, this coupling having an inturned ange 23 to grip tl1e inside ofthe flange 11 on the stator, and is caused to grip by the male element24 on the hose 25 with intervening hose washer 26 for sealing.

The rotor consists of a sleeve 27 which rotatably tits the stator andwhich sleeve is slightly shorter than the space between the ange 23 andthe bracket 20 for free running, and this rotor has a series of radialpassages 2S which are threaded to receive the spray heads 29 and whichare formed to a T-shape including the leg 30 and the cross head 31, theleg 30 having a passage 32 which is communicable with a passage 33 inthe cross head and which passage is formed axially in one end andterminates in spaced relation to the other end 34.

This T-shaped member permits the cross head to be used as a wrenchhandle for adjusting the angle of the spray head relative to the axis ofthe rotor for controlling the location of a narrow spray path and forcontrolling the width of the path sprayed through adjustments of thespray heads in different directions angularly.

Suitable securing means such as a wing nut 36 is provided for securingthe spray head in angularly adjusted position. To provide a divergent,relatively iine spray, and to further control the direction and width orarea of the spray, the nozzles or spray heads are provided withdetlectors 37 which may be iixed to the nozzle as indicated at 38, thedeectors being inclined into the path of the jet from the nozzle, butare preferably made adjustable as is clearly indicated in'Fig. 2, andconsisting of a clamp 39 which is formed integral with the deector andwhich encircles the nozzle and is provided with a clamp screw 40 andwing nut,41 for securing the deflector in any desired adjusted position.With this deflector the spray can be directed forwardly or rearwardly orin both directions relative to the sprinkler.

For assembling, the stator is passed into the coupling 22, the rotor isthen slipped onto the stator and the stator secured to its support. TheWing nuts are screwed onto the legs 30 which legs are in turn screwedinto the passages 28, adjusted to the desired position, and the wingnuts tightened. lf the deectors are not to be made adjustable, they arewelded or brazed to the nozzles, but if they are to be adjustable, theyare applied and clamped onto the nozzles. The hose washer is insertedinto the coupling 22 after which the male member of the hose coupling isscrewed into the female coupling 22, making the sprinkler ready for use.

The combined angular span of the passage 15 plus twice the angular spanof the passage 28 is made about equal to or slightly less than theangular distance between the spray nozzles, causing the sprinkler to beself-starting when water under pressure is delivered to the stator.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification in which the stator is rotatablyadjustable on its axis to provide for equal or any proportionatespraying in respective directions from the sprinkler, and consists of anadjusting lever 42 which is fixed on the rear end of the stator, andwith the terminal end of the stator being threaded and passing throughthe support bracket 43, and with this threaded portion being providedwith a nut 44 shown provided with a wrench arm 45.

When the lever 42 is in a vertical position as shown, the passage i5 islocated at top center, and distribution will be equal in both directionsfrom the sprinkler if the detlector is adjusted in the normal planeshown in Figs. l and 2, while if the lever is adjusted to any otherposition indicated dotted at 42' and 42, sprinkling will be confined toone or the other side of the sprinkler, and it at some intermediateposition, more spray and a greater distance will be covered on one .siderelative to the other side of the sprinkler. With the stator adjusted asdesired, the nut 44 is tightened to secure the stator in its adjustedposition.

A further modification is also shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the sprinklerbeing pivoted to the support bracket as by a hinge joint 46 having abolt 47 serving coincidently as a pintle, and with the terminal pintlesleeves 4S and 49 formed on the respective upper and lower bracketmembers to permit the head of the bolt to be fixed to one bracket memberas by welding or brazing as indicated at 50, with the wing nut 51engaging the pintle sleeve 49 to clamp the hinge joint in any adjustedposition, permitting the sprinkler to be adjusted to any position fromhorizontal to vertical.

With the detlectors adjustable as indicated in Figs. l and 2, and thestator rotatably and angularly adjustable, the sprinkler can be adjustedto sprinkle an area of almost any desired area and form within thelimits of practical operation, and ranging through a relatively straightstrip, through semi-oval to semi-circular, and the stator can beadjusted to sprinkle the other half of the oval or circular area withoutchanging the position of the sprinkler.

With the completely adjustable type it may prove convenient to have thewater connection at the rear end of the stator as indicated in Fig. 5,with the threaded end 52 made larger in diameter to receive one member54 as indicated at 53, of a hose coupling, and having the bore 55 formedthrough the rear end` of the stator with the outer end closed.

Thus a universal sprinkler is provided, one which can be adjusted tosprinkle any defined area within the irnpulse limits of the jets, andranging through a relatively short to long narrow or wide path, throughsemi-oval to semi-circular, equally on both sides or differentiallybetwee the two sides or only on one side of the sprinkler, and asprinkler which is self starting upon delivery of water under pressureto the sprinkler.

l claim:

l, A sprinkler comprising a support, a stator adjustably mounted on saidsupport for rotative adjustmentv at will and having a connection for asource of water under pressure, a rotor rotatable on said stator andhaving -a plurality of equi-angularly spaced nozzles, said stator havingan axial passage formed in one end for said connection and terminatingin spaced relation to the other end, a single passage formed through thewall of said stator in continuous communication with said axial passageand in sequential communication with said nozzles during rotation ofsaid rotor, a dellector for each nozzle and each nozzle having aterminal portion, and each dei'lector including a clamp portion to clampabout said terminal portion and including releasing means for rotativeadjustment on said terminal portion, and a deector plate inclinedrelative to the axis of said clamp member and extending across the pathof the jet from the nozzle for controlling, in conjunction with therotative adjustment of said stator, the direction and extent ofprojection of the spray from the nozzle relative to the sprinkler, saidnozzles each including a leg portion having one end threaded into thewall of the rotor and including securing means for securing the legportion in any relative adjusted position, said leg portion terminatingat the other end in a nozzle portion formed in angular relation to theleg portion with the said deflector mounted and rotatably adjustablethereon for the purpose specified, said support comprising a basemember, and a support member for the stator, said base member and saidsupport member being pivotally connected and including securing meansfor securing the support member to the base memher in any angularlyadjusted position through an angle of not less than 90 degrees foradjusting the axis of the stator to any position ranging from horizontalto vertical, and in conjunction with the rotative adjustment of thestator and of the deflectors providing control of the form, direction,and extent of the path or area to be sprinkled as related to thelocation of the sprinkler, thereby providing a universal sprinkler.

2. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axialpassage, a rotor rotatable on said stator,

supporting means and a hose connection for said stator, said statorhaving a radial delivery passage through one wall, and radial pressurebalancing passages formed through the opposite wall for substantiallyfrictionless floating operation of the rotor on the stator, a pluralityof sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by said rotor andsequentially communicative with said delivery passage, and a detiectorfor each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path ofthe jet from the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising abracket having one end of saidistator supported thereby, an adjustinglever mounted on Said stator for rotatably adjusting said stator fordifferential spraying on respective sides of said sprinkler andincluding securing means for securing the stator in any rotatablyadjusted position.

3. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axialpassage, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hoseconnection for said stator and said stator having a radial deliverypassage provided through one wall, and radial pressure balancingpassages formed through the opposite wall tor substantially frictionlessoating operation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinklerheads equi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentiallycommunicative with said delivery passage, and a deector for eachsprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jetfrom the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising a brackethaving a base and an upstanding member including adjustable means andsecuring means therefor for said sprinkler for adjusting said stator toany desired angle ranging from horizontal to vertical for varying thearea sprinkled from a straight narrow path to a relatively wide paththrough semi-elliptical to semi-circular at will.

4. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axialpassage, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hoseconnection for said stator and having a radial delivery passage providedthrough one wall of the stator, and radial pressure balancing passagesformed through the opposite wall for substantially frictionless oatingoperation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler headsequi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicativewith said delivery passage, and a detiector for each sprinkler head andprojecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinklerhead, said sprinkler heads each comprising a T-shaped member having aleg threaded into the wall of the rotor and a cross head functioning asa wrench handle for adjusting the relative angularity of the cross headwith respect to the axis of the stator for controlling the direction ofprojection of the spray, with one arm of said cross head comprising anozzle for the sprinkler head, said supporting means comprising abracket having one end of said stator supported thereby, an adjustinglever fixed on said stator for rotative adjustment for differentialsprinkling on respective sides of said sprinkler and including securingmeans for securing said stator in rotatably adjusted position.

5. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axialpassage, a rotor rotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hoseconnection for said stator, a radial delivery passage provided throughone wall of said stator, and radial pressure-balancing passages formedthrough the opposite wall for substantially frictionless floatingoperation of the rotor on the stator, a plurality of sprinkler headsequi-angularly supported by said rotor and sequentially communicativewith said delivery passage, a deliector for each sprinkler head andprojecting inclinedly upward in the path of the jet from the sprinklerhead, said sprinkler heads each comprising a T-shaped member having aleg threaded into the wall of said rotor, and a cross head functioningas a Wrench handle for adjusting the relative angularity of the crosshead with respect to the axis of the stator for controlling thedirection of projection of the spray, with one arm of said cross headcomprising a nozzle for the sprinkler head, said supporting meanscomprising a bracket having a base and an upstanding member includingadjustable means and securing means therefor for said sprinkler foradjusting said stator to any desired angle ranging from horizontal tovertical for varying the area sprinkled from a straight narrow path to awide path through semi-oval to semi-circular at will, thus providing forlimitation of sprinkling to any desired area.

6. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising, a stator having an axialpassage and a radial delivery passage provided through one wall, a rotorrotatable on said stator, supporting means and a hose connection forsaid stator, radial pressure balancing passages formed through the otherwall for substantially frictionless oating operation of the rotor on thestator, a plurality of sprinkler heads equi-angularly supported by saidrotor and sequentially communicative with said delivery passage, and adefiector for each sprinkler head and projecting inclinedly upward inthe path of the jet from the sprinkler head, said supporting meanscomprising a bracket having one end of said stator supported thereby, anadjusting lever lxed on said stator for rotatable adjustment of thestator about its axis for differential spraying on respective sides ofthe sprinkler and including securing means for securing the stator inany adjusted position, said bracket being intermediately hinged andincluding means for securing the hinged members in any adjusted positionfor adjusting the axis of the stator to any desired angle ranging fromhorizontal to vertical for varying the area sprinkled from a straightnarrow path to a relatively wide path through semi-oval tosemi-circular, thus providing for limitation of sprinkling to anydesired area about the sprinkler.

7. A lawn and garden sprinkler comprising a stator, a rotor rotatable onsaid stator, a hose connection for said stator, a plurality ofequi-angularly spaced sprinkler heads threadedly mounted in said rotor,an axial passage provided in said stator, and a radial passagecommunicating with said axial passage with said radial passagecommunicating sequentially with said sprinkler heads, a deflectorprojecting forwardly and inclined upwardly in the path of the jet fromeach sprinkler head and being rotatably adjustable thereon to controlthe direction of sprinkling, a bracket for supporting said stator, alever iixed on said stator for adjusing the stator about its axis fordifferential sprinkling on respective sides of the sprinkler, and meansfor securing said stator in adjusted position, said bracket beingintermediately hinged on a horizontal axis and including securing meansfor adjusting and securing the axis of the stator to any positionranging from horizontal to vertical for varying the sprinkling patternfrom a straight and narrow path to a relatively wide path throughsemi-oval to semi-circular areas, whereby sprinkling may be carried outto suit the specific area requiring sprinkling.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,766,514 Henry June 24, 1930 2,560,662 Rieger July 17, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 401,506 Germany Sept. 4, 1924 556,168 France Apr. 9, 1923960,051 France Apr. 1l, 1950

